Daring decision reaps rich dividend

It would have to be described as one of Jim Bolger’s finest hours. That performance by his Dawn Approach, in the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, was quite extraordinary.

The horse appeared to have literally blown a gasket in the Epsom Derby and it would have been no great surprise if he disappeared for many months, or, indeed, was never again seen on a racecourse.

But Bolger, throughout a long and distinguished career, has always been a maverick and he shocked the entire racing world by running Dawn Approach back just 17 days after the nightmare of Epsom.